Danny´s View of............Barrowford

Butty'time at Roughlee

The 'bovine' referred to in John's earlier post

What a motley line-up!

"We're here. Look!:

Pendle Hill from the south

"Will those two ever agree on the route?"

"It was this big!" "What was?"

A 'hive' of activity

"Mary had a little lamb(?)
It lay upon it's back.
John fancied having it for lunch..but it
Won't fit in his rucsac!

Barrowford

Descending into Barrowford

"We're knackered and we've only done five miles!"

The weir on Pendle Water (see previous blog below)

"I reck'n nowt t' these meanderthal things!
Much be''er on fower legs!"

Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford

Click here to see a salmon leaping up the waterfall on Pendle Water at Barrowford

Our route from Pendle Heritage Centre (right)

The height profile of the route

It has occurred to me that if the green profile line was a piece of string and we pulled one end to make it straight the walk would be considerably longer than the length which it is recorded as being. Or am I missing something?(careful how you answer that !)
John

Mist Over Pendle

BARROWFORD  6 Miles ?

Walkers :- John W, John R, Danny,   Paddy,  Anthony 
                   Jim D and Martin

With dark grey skies and the threat of rain in the air we pulled into a car park opposite the delightful "Pendle Heritage Centre," buildings.  It took a little while to get ready as the conditions warranted "Full"  waterproofs. (Just in case) . Once suitably dressed we set off through the surprisingly charming little town. It was not far along the main street before we turned right at a junction and started what was to be a steady and at times steep climb up into the surrounding countryside.   Within minutes we had climbed out of the valley and away from the built up area. Wonderful views had been promised but with all this drizzly mist ?

Progress was necessarily slow as the slope was steep, the ground was remarkably soft and after our last encounter (see Martin and the ditch in Eccleston walk) we were taking extra care over the wet and slippery stiles.

Here we are negotiating one such stile after stopping for coffee in the shelter of the half-ruined barn.

Onwards and upwards and the sky seemed to be lifting as we approached the top of the ridge. Not so ! As we topped the ridge, great views were glimpsed before us but as we climbed over a drystone wall to turn left the wind picked up and the rain began to lash down.

The rain did not last and we soon reached the highest point of our walk. Here a right turn took us "Through" a drystone wall  (Wet actually !) and the path led us steadily down hill. It was steep and slippery so once again we were on our guard. As we descended the clouds began to lift and Pendle (With misty head wear) appeared beyond further ridges. Our surroundings were an almost magical, picture book ideal of a country valley. And there is Pendle. Like a whale breeching amongst the great, green waves,

Our careful progress was to be rewarded as we arrived at a very pretty hamlet which provided us with an equally pretty and comfortable dining spot on the banks of a small river. (Pendle Water.)

As we sat munching a rather snooty young lady clip-clopped past on a large horse, a bunch of raggle-taggle youths shouted a cheery hello as they walked past and just before we left a couple of walkers asked if parking was allowed nearby.  We magnanimously gave them our permission !!!

Off again and soon we were passing a beautifully tinted stand of trees. Here we paused for photo before leaving the road and edging past a large "Hereford" beast of unidentifiable sex. (Are there trans gender bovines ?) 

 Another photo stop as we come across an unexpectedly steep (but mercifully short)  climb away from the river valley

 At this point our two illustrious leaders had their customary "civilised" discussion about the way forward.  Between them the way forward was decided.
From here on the path WAS downhill all the way. With plenty of blue sky now above us and the view changed from enchanting countryside to terrific townscape we sat to gaze at the urban sprawl before us. This lacked the bucolic beauty of our earlier views but still had a mesmeric affect as we simply sat and gazed. 

We were now rapidly approaching the end of our walk but as we crossed the last couple of fields we came across a sheep in distress. It was on it's back and couldn't right itself , A very dangerous situation for a sheep. BUT....Big John came to the rescue and helped it back on it's feet.  He was most aggrieved when the sheep ran off without a word of thanks. I think he may have said some unkind words to it and I could swear I heard the sheep mutter "...and ewe "

 And so back into Barrowford.  It took several questionings of locals before we found our way  into the superb Victorian park on the other side of Pendle Water. In here the path led us to the Heritage Centre where we stopped for several minutes watching Salmon (or sea trout ?) leaping the weir.

 The enticing cafe at the heritage centre "sucked" us in and after  downing welcome "Brews" we left to cross the road and prepare to leave for home,  BUT NOT BEFORE consuming some of John R's home made ginger cake, SUPERB ! especially as he assured us it was made by his own fair hands. I suspect that when his "Boss" reads this the truth will out. (We will inspect his scars on our next walk.)
Not a bad walk by John's standards but be warned he will return to his principal of RANDOM RAMBLING !

 

Geordie Football!

(Thanks Martin)

Getting Older?

As I’m lying around, pondering the problems of the world I realize that at my age I don't really give a rat's arse anymore.

                               

If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.

A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, but is still fat.

                               

A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 5 years, while ….. 

 

A tortoise doesn't run and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years.

                               

And you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so!

Now that I'm older here's what I've discovered:

                               

 1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.

                               

3. I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart. 

                               

4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

5. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on my knees.

6. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?

7. It was a whole lot easier to get older, than to get wiser.

                               

8. Some days, you're the top dog; some days you're the lamp post.

                               

9. I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them.

10. Kids in the back seat cause accidents. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

11. Some days your the windscreen; some days your the fly!

   

12. It's hard to make a comeback when you  haven't been anywhere.

13. The world only beats a path to your door when you're in the bathroom.

                               

14. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

 

15. When I'm finally holding all the right cards, everyone wants  to  play chess.

 

16. It’s not hard to meet expenses . . . they're everywhere.

                               

 17. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

 

18. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the  hereafter. I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm "here after".

19. I can’t be over the hill because I don’t remember being on the top!

20.  Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

20. HAVE I POSTED THIS MESSAGE TO YOU BEFORE?

(Thanks John)

Alnwick Gardens (Northumbria)

The Grand Cascade

The Visitor Centre

Part of the Serpentine Garden

The Vortex

Back to the Grande Cascade - in full flow

Waiting to be shown around the Poison Garden!

You've been warned!

Back to the Cascade

Part of the Ornamental Garden (past it's best)

The Pond

The Tree House

Part of the Tree House

Four very brave ladies on the Tree Top Walk